The Central Election Commission of Bosnia and Herzegovina has fined Milorad Dodik’s Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD) approximately €9,500 for violations including premature campaigning, misuse of public resources and the use of children for political purposes.
The sanctions were imposed before the official election campaign period and represent the latest in a series of penalties issued against political parties for alleged violations of Bosnia and Herzegovina’s election rules.
The largest individual fine against SNSD, approximately €6,100, concerns a public event held on July 8 in Srbac to mark the reconstruction of the regional road between Laktaši and Srbac.
The event was attended by Republika Srpska Prime Minister Savo Minić and other government officials. Dodik, who currently holds no public office, also addressed the gathering.
The Central Election Commission determined that Dodik’s appearance constituted premature election campaigning.
The commission also found that the event involved the misuse of public resources because it was organized with public funds and featured SNSD officials, while representatives of other political parties were not invited.
SNSD received an additional fine of approximately €3,300 over a video promoting the reconstruction of a children’s playground in Banja Luka.
The video, published on the party’s social media profile, featured statements from SNSD supporters and officials, as well as children. The commission concluded that the video amounted to premature campaigning and that children had been used for political purposes.
SNSD was not the only party sanctioned. The Social Democratic Party (SDP) was fined approximately €4,600, while the Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina received a fine of around €1,500, both for premature campaigning.
More than 40 election-related fines have now been issued against political parties and other political actors in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
As of August 7, the Central Election Commission had imposed 38 financial penalties ranging from approximately €1,500 to €4,000 for premature campaigning, the misuse of children, the spread of disinformation and other violations of the Election Law.
Among the sanctioned parties are SNSD, the Party of Democratic Action (SDA), SDP BiH, HDZ BiH, HDZ 1990, the Serb Democratic Party (SDS), People and Justice, the Democratic Front, Our Party and the Safe Srpska Movement.
The OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina said it was closely monitoring developments that could affect the integrity of the electoral process, including allegations of the misuse of public resources, premature campaigning and other irregularities.
The organization stressed that proportionate sanctions and consistent and transparent decisions by the Central Election Commission are essential to ensuring equal participation by political actors and maintaining public confidence in the electoral process.
Transparency International Bosnia and Herzegovina has also previously raised concerns over alleged electoral irregularities.
Bosnia and Herzegovina is scheduled to hold general elections on October 4, when voters will elect members of the country’s tripartite Presidency, the president and vice presidents of Republika Srpska, as well as representatives to the state and entity-level parliaments and cantonal assemblies.
The official election campaign begins 30 days before election day. Until then, activities classified as premature campaigning are prohibited under Bosnia and Herzegovina’s electoral rules.
